Upon entering the festival, one might think it's just another festival, The booths were there,the beer was there, the food was there, even the rides were there.  
After standing for a few minutes in the large parking lot surrounded by booths of all sorts, there was a distinctively different feeling. It's in the attitudes of those working in the various activities. Friendliness is a difficult emotion to describe, when attempting to assign it physical properties, but there it was as I stood in the center of the activities. Just a good warm feeling, as person after person carrying this and that walked by, smiled and said "Hi". Or asked if I was having a good time. They were definitely genuine contacts. The next thing that came to mind, was the traditional carnival music had been replaced by a live band on a distant stage playing an assortment of Greek music, while dancers in traditional Greek dress danced in precision step in lines and circles. I later learned that these costumes are all made by the participants which ranged from small children to adults. It is a year round project to get ready for this 3 day event. I am sure such activities serve to reinforce the historical ties to the old country and the ways that seem to be fading from a modern American life style.There was no question, a story lay hidden just below the noise, beer, and food, and I needed an inside look at the thoughts and feelings that went into this production which, as I penetrated deeper into the event, became obvious was as well organized as any Broadway play. Having meandered the booths, we found ourselves at one of the several entrances to the Church proper. As we waded through the subway like traffic coming and going, we found ourselves in what looked like a school gymnasium. If I thought the outside was busy, this place was really moving. As I rested against an outer wall, surveying the "Agora", or marketplace in Greek, My eyes fell upon James Spyridon, standing at the information booth. His T-shirt told the whole story. He had obviously been a part of this presentation for many years. From him I would hear the historical story of the Greek transformation from their homeland to Cincinnati.